Memorial For Drowning Victim

John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Mary Scholtz, center, alongside her son Tyler Woodrell, left, and her husband John Scholtz and friends and family sing Happy Birthday to Scholtz's daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy every year for her birthday at their home in Golden Gate. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff A portrait of Ivy Scholtz sits in a memorial cabinet in her family's home in Golden Gate. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Matt Eastman, 11, writes a note to Ivy Scholtz, who would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012 at John and Mary Scholtz's home in Golden Gate. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Mary Scholtz writes a note to her daughter Ivy Scholtz, who would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012, along with friends and neighbors at her home. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy Rose who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Mary Scholtz goes through her deceased daughter Ivy Rose's room during a birthday party in memory of her daughter who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Matt Eastman, 11, center, writes a note to Ivy Scholtz, who would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012, along with friends and neighbors at John and Mary Scholtz's home. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy Rose who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Tyler Woodrell shows a tattoo he had done for his siblings after his little sister, Ivy Scholtz, had died six years ago. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff John Scholtz takes a look at the notes that the children have written for his daughter, Ivy Scholtz, who would have turned nine on May 9, 2012. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Tori Macino, 12, writes a note to Ivy Scholtz on a balloon that she will release along with several others in memory of Scholtz who drowned in a pool six years ago. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Ben Kniola, 9, plays with his balloon on the floor before he heads to the backyard of the Scholtz's home to release the balloons in memory of Ivy Scholtz. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Mary Scholtz, center, alongside her son Tyler Woodrell, left, and her husband John Scholtz and friends and family sing Happy Birthday to Scholtz's daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy every year for her birthday. She would have been nine years old on March 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Balloons released by the Scholtz family along with their friends and family ascend into the sky after they were released in memory of Ivy Scholtz's ninth birthday on May 9, 2012. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy. She would have been nine years old on May 9, 2012.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Ben Kniola, 9, watches as the balloons that he and the family and friends of Ivy Scholtz released in memory of her birthday on May 9, 2012. Mary Scholtz has been hosting a birthday party along with her husband and family in memory of their daughter Ivy Rose who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.

Scott McIntyre/Staff After balloons were released, the young friends and family members of Ivy Scholtz blew out the same birthday candle that Ivy blew out for her third birthday at the Scholtz's home on May 9, 2012. John and Mary Scholtz have been hosting a birthday party along with their family and friends in memory of their daughter Ivy who drowned in a pool six years ago. The family, along with friends and neighbors, have a party with a balloon release to memorialize Ivy.